Thailand were demolished 13-0 by world No 1 and defending champions USA last week, the biggest winning margin in Cup history, before regaining some pride in losing 5-1 to Sweden, world-ranked 9 and 2016 Olympic silver medallists, on Sunday.

An 18-goal deficit heading into the group-stage finale against Chile on Thursday night makes Thailand’s qualification for the last-16 as one of the four best third-placed teams a near-impossible scenario but Kanjana, who lifted team spirits with her late goal against Sweden, thinks otherwise.

“Anything can happen in the world of soccer,” said the 32-year-old striker from Surin province during a break in training at the Stade Municipal Pont Pean in Rennes, the city in northwestern France where Thursday’s game will be played.

“ We cannot underestimate any team. Our job is to produce the best results in order to keep our hopes of reaching the last 16 alive.”

Apart from beating Chile, two other things must happen for Thailand to reach the World Cup knockout stage for the first time: Argentina must draw with Scotland in their Group D finale on Wednesday night, while Cameroon and New Zealand, in Group E 24 hours later.

“The atmosphere at the team has been so much better since we scored the first goal [against Sweden],” said Kanjana.

“Four years ago we were unable to even score against higher-ranked teams, so scoring against world No 9 like Sweden has really boosted us to keep fighting.”

Thailand’s thre other World Cup goals came against Ivory Coast in Ottawa four years ago.

After recovering from the fiasco of the opening-game hammering by the US to get on the goalsheet against Sweden, the Thai team made headlines around the world. US broadcaster CNN even interviewed team manager Nualphan Lamsam about her commitment to supporting the women’s team, financially and in person.

The Thailand-Chile game kicks off at 2am on Friday (Thailand time) and can be seen live on PPTV.

 Annabel Dimmock during the clinic

The four-day tournament begins on Thursday at the Phoenix Gold Golf & Country Club, Pattaya.

The four-day tournament begins today at the Phoenix Gold Golf & Country Club, Pattaya, where Thailand’s Kanyalak Preedasuttijit will be defending her title.

Chatprapa Siriprakob poses for a selfie with young players.

TrueSport HD3 is broadcasting live coverage of the event on Saturday and Sunday (1pm – 4pm).

Daily tickets costing just Bt100 are available at the public entrance to the course, while those under 18 and over 60 can get in for free.

The 33-year-old, widely considered the best player in the history of the women’s game, slammed home from the spot in the 74th minute against Group C winners Italy to secure qualification and take her World Cup tally to 17 after Debinha was bundled over by Elena Linari.

That puts her one ahead of former Bayern Munich and Lazio striker Miroslav Klose in the all-time rankings, and the veteran attacker said the goal was more than just a personal triumph.

“The feeling is a joyful one, definitely, not only for breaking the record but for being able to represent women in doing so,” she said.

“And for being able to help my team which is what matters most, qualifying for the next stage of the tournament.”

Marta’s record-breaking spot-kick wasn’t enough to secure second place in the group however, as Sam Kerr’s incredible four-goal haul in Australia’s 4-1 hammering of Jamaica saw the Matildas leapfrog Brazil on goals scored as three sides finished on six points.

It means they could face either France or Germany in the next round, a tough test for a team that has at times spluttered in the group stage.

“I think that when you play a big competition like a World Cup, you can’t choose who you play,” insisted Marta.

“We have this thing now, we need to do what we need to do to keep this thing going in the competition and then whoever we have to play we will be prepared.”

The Aussies will play Norway in Nice in the next round on Saturday after they made sure of qualification on Monday with a scrappy 2-1 win over eliminated South Korea that came thanks to two penalties.

Having lost their opening match with Italy they looked dead and buried as they headed towards half-time against Brazil two goals down, but clawed back to win 3-2 before comfortably seeing off the Jamaicans, who finish the group stage with no points to their name despite Havana Solaun scoring the Reggae Girlz’ first ever World Cup goal four minutes after the break.

Kerr became the first Australian woman to score a World Cup hat-trick when she tapped home in th 69th minute following two first half headers, and her fourth was the goal that secured second spot.

Italy meanwhile will take on one of the four best third-placed finishers after topping the group ahead of Australia on goal difference, while Brazil have to wait to know their opponent.

“It’s hard to think of such a thing as a ‘good defeat’, but you could say that we’re happy for qualifying and finishing first in the group,” said Italy coach Milena Bertolini.

England take centre stage on Wednesday as they attempt to match Italy in finishing first in Group D when they take on Japan, while Argentina look to squeeze into the next round when they take on bottom side Scotland.

Buoyed by his first international victory on the Japan Challenge Tour last week, the 27-year-old Vincent, who has been plying his trade in Asia since coming through the Qualifying School in 2016, is eyeing another career milestone at the highly rated Woo Jeong Hills Country Club.

Vincent, the highest-ranked Zimbabwean on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), hopes to continue his affinity with Korea by clinching his long-overdue Asian Tour win in the Land of the Morning Calm, where he had capped three top-three results in his last five starts.

He will feature in the talented 144-man field alongside Order of Merit leader Scott Hend of Australia, Thai rising star Jazz Janewattananond, Korean American Kevin Na, a three-time PGA TOUR winner, as well as Korean golf sensation Hosung Choi.

Minchel Choi of Korea will also be seeking a successful title defence at his National Open, which will once again be part of The Open Qualifying Series, where two spots will be awarded to the leading two players (not otherwise exempt) finishing in the top-eight and ties.

Tirawat Kaewsiribandit of Thailand, who secured a victory on home soil two weeks ago, hopes to turn his season around by keeping up his good form when he gets his campaign underway at the Kolon Korea Open Golf Championship.

The Kolon Korea Open Golf Championship, co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Korea Golf Association (KGA), is the second of the three Asian Tour events to be played in Korea this year.

In each of the three previous years (Kemper Lakes/2018, Olympia Fields/2017, Sahalee/2016), the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship included the top 100 players on the LPGA Official Money List.

Mo Martin (No. 97), of Naples, Florida, withdrew from the 2019 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship over the weekend due to injury.

YOUTH IS SERVED HERE

Dating to the ISPS Handa Vic Open in early February, 14 consecutive LPGA tournaments have been won by players in their 20s.

Eun-Hee Ji is the only player outside her 20s to win this year. Ji won the season’s first tournament, the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions Presented by IOA, in mid-January. She was 32 at the time (and is now 33).

TOP 10 AGAIN

Four players – Jessica Korda Jeongeun Lee6, Ally McDonald, Lexi Thompson — have posted top-10 finishes in both of the LPGA’s first two major championships of the year: the ANA Inspiration and U.S. Women’s Open. A closer look at their performances:

SPREADING THE WEALTH

Dating to the 2017 Ricoh British Women’s Open, nine different players have won the LPGA’s nine major championships played. Six of the nine were first-time major champions.

MAJOR CHAMPIONS GALORE

The 156-player field for the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship includes 29 different major champions that have combined on 52 major titles. Inbee Park and Karrie Webb lead the pack with seven majors apiece.

THESE NINE ARE DIVINE

Nine former KPMG Women’s PGA Champions are in the field this week in the Twin Cities. Laura Davies (1994, 1996), Shanshan Feng (2012), Brooke Henderson (2016), Danielle Kang (2017), Cristie Kerr (2010), Inbee Park (2013, ’14, ‘15), Sung Hyun Park (2018), Anna Nordqvist (2009) and Karrie Webb (2001).

NEW BULLET POINT ON HAZELTINE’S RESUME

This is the first KPMG Women’s PGA Championship to be played in Minnesota and it bolsters Hazeltine’s impressive golf heritage, which includes a Ryder Cup victory in 2016, multiple PGA Championships (2002, ’09), multiple U.S. Opens (1970, 1991), multiple U.S. Women’s Opens (1966, 1977), as well as a U.S. Senior Open (1983), a U.S. Amateur Championship (2006), a U.S. Mid-Amateur (1994) and a NCAA Division I Men’s Championship (1999).

In the coming years, Hazeltine will host the 2020 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship and the 2028 Ryder Cup. Hazeltine will become the first American venue to host a second Ryder Cup.

THE VIEW FROM THE SUMMIT

Enhancing Championship Week is Wednesday’s 5th Annual KPMG Women’s Leadership Summit, which will be hosted on-site at Hazeltine. The event brings together highly accomplished leaders in business, politics, sports and the media to inspire the next generation of women leaders. KPMG U.S. Chairman and CEO Lynne Doughtie, 66th U.S. Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice and two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion Mia Hamm will serve as keynote speakers. They will be joined by a group of accomplished leaders from the worlds of business, sports, and the media, including: Cathy Bessant – Chief Operations and Technology Officer, Bank of America; Brian Cornell – Chairman & CEO, Target; Peter Grauer – Chairman, Bloomberg; Alison Levine – New York Times Bestselling Author & Leadership Advisor and Suzy Whaley – President, PGA of America.

Net proceeds from the Championship and Summit fund the KPMG Future Leaders Program.  This Program affords top female high school seniors across the country the opportunity to enhance their personal growth through college scholarships, a leadership development retreat at Stanford University, a mentoring relationship with a woman business leader, and an introduction to golf.

Over the past two editions teen prodigy Atthaya Thitikul and unfancied Kanyalak Preedasuttijit made the country proud by winning the title despite facing tough competition from leading players on the LET.

This year, keeping the title oin Thailamnd is a more daunting task than ever – eight out of the top 10 on the LET Orders of Merit standings have signed up for the 126-player event, which features a total of 126 players: the top 70 from the LET, top 40 from the Thai LPGA and 16 from sponsor invites.

They will be competing in a 72-hole strokeplay format for which only the top 60 will make the weekend cut.

Apart from the world ranking points, the LET Thailand Championship winner will receive an LET Tour card which guarantees them qualification for both the British Women’s Open and the Evian Championship.

Moreover, European LET members are eligible to earn Solheim Cup points for top-10 finishes and this week marks a golden opportunity for the LET players to push to qualify for Team Europe.

Many of the top drawcards were at Tuesday’s traditional pre-tournament photoshoot: the two current and former champions Kanyalak and Atthaya along with compatriot Chonlada Chayanun, South Korean pin-up girl Yoo Hyun Ju, No 3 Esther Henseleit of Germany and 2018 Rookie of the Year Julia Engstrom of Sweden.

TrueSport HD3 is broadcasting live coverage of the event on Saturday and Sunday (1pm – 4pm).

Daily tickets costing just Bt100 are available at the public entrance to the course, while those under 18 and over 60 can get in for free.

The Thai No 1 mixed double pairing are preparing for three big tournaments next month: the Indonesia Open (Super 1000) and Japan Open (Super 750) and Thailand Open (Super 500).

“We want to reach No 3 in the world but it will be tough as the third-ranked team has a lot more world ranking points then us,” said Sapsiree. She and Dechapol have 77,933 points compared to 81,493 of Japanese world No 3 Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino.

The 12-month Olympic qualifying period runs until next April, when world rankings will be used to select eligible teams for the 16 pair-draw.

“There are several aspects we have to fix in order to get ready for tough schedule. We need to have good results to guarantee our spot in Tokyo,” said Dechapol. He and Sapsiree won their only title this year at the Singapore Open, when they beat world No 1 Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong in the semi-finals.

Both will have to take care of their physical condition, however – Dechapol will also have to play the Olympic men’s doubles with Kittinupong Kerden, while Sapsiree will line up in the women’s doubles with Puttita Supajiranukul.

“As we have to play mixed and doubles, we have to be really fit and try not to have injuries. However, the mixed doubles is still the priority,” Sapsiree said.

Caroline Graham Hansen gave Norway an early lead from the spot after Cho So-hyun was judged to have grabbed Maria Thorisdottir in the third minute, before winning the decisive second penalty shortly after the break when she was chopped down by Kang Chae-rim.

The Barcelona attacker had to watch while she received treatment on the sidelines as Isabell Herlovsen just squeezed home Norway’s second to secure the points from a nervy encounter and seal second place in Group A, despite Yeo Min-ji’s poked finish 12 minutes from time.

Asked by reporters if she would be available to play in the next round, Hansen said: “I don’t know yet, but the doctors are positive we’ll be OK.”

“The Koreans were better than we expected, but we were not good today so we’re happy that we’re through,” she added.

They also survived a late scare from the impressive Koreans, who are nonetheless out after finishing bottom with no points, when Min-ji headed a fraction wide in stoppage time.

In the next round Martin Sjogren’s side will take on one of Italy, Brazil or Australia, who go into the last round of group matches in Group C on Tuesday with first place and a potential two further last 16 places up for grabs.

“We’ll have to see who we meet, but I think Italy have really impressed me,” said Sjogren.

Outsiders Italy need just a point against Brazil to top the group while the Australians can snatch second place if they beat point-less bottom side Jamaica and the Brazilians — in second level on three points with the Aussies — fail to win.

France meanwhile will take on one of the four best third-placed finishers following their 1-0 win, but face the prospect of tackling defending champions the USA in the quarter-finals should the Americans as expected top Group F and win their subsequent last 16 tie.

The French needed a point to take first place in the group but Renard gave them all three from the spot at the second attempt, after Nigeria goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie was judged to have encroached for Renard’s first effort, which hit the post.

“I thought to myself ‘this is not my day …’ (but) I took my responsibility and I decided to retake it,” said Renard.

“In high level sport if you’re not mentally prepared there’s no point you being there.”

Germany meanwhile ensured they missed the Americans in the next round after they topped Group B with a perfect nine points following a comprehensive 4-0 win over South Africa earlier on Monday.

It could instead be Spain, who qualify for the next round in second place behind the Germans after a goalless draw with also-through China, to play the world’s best team.

– Stalemate –

Both the Spaniards and former runners-up China knew a point in Le Havre would take them through to the knockout phase from Group B, and they transpired to play out a stalemate.

Spain did threaten to take all three points late on, but China goalkeeper Peng Shimeng made key saves in the last 10 minutes, getting down low to keep out a Patri Guijarro strike and then reaching to tip over a Jennifer Hermoso effort.

China finished behind Spain on goal difference but will progress as one of the best third-place finishers.

Former world champions Germany had no trouble dispensing with South Africa in Montpellier, as the Banyana Banyana go home from their first World Cup without a point thanks to goals from Melanie Leupolz, Sara Daebritz, Alexandra Popp and Lina Magull.

Germany go into a last-16 tie on Saturday in Grenoble against an as yet unknown third-place finisher from another group.

Spain will play in Reims on June 24 against either the United States or Sweden, while China must wait to find out which group winner they will come up against.